In short: Great race but leave your watch at homeIn full: Fantastic organisation and marshalling - there seemed to be drinks stations almost every mile! It is hilly over the last 5 miles (1 of them was ridiculously steep) but the main problem for me was the terrain - if you like running in mud, farmer's fields and on rutted, single-track paths then this is for you! Forget about times - I ran 75 seconds per mile slower than road speed (although this made a pleasant change to be honest). Not sure I'll be back as I feel lucky not to have turned an ankle but can't fault this as an event.Date of review: July 1, 2012

In short: Excellent Event but oh so toughIn full: This was a fabulous event but the course is very tough. I had done it before so I knew what to expect but I felt so sorry for newbies who would have been heartened by the "it's all downhill from here" shouts only to find they were untrue (why do people do that? It doesn't help).

The only improvement would be a proper baggage drop.

Missed my pb by 10 seconds (!) but in the final two miles I was so completely cooked by the sun and the preceding climbs that it was a miracle I even finished!Date of review: March 26, 2012

In short: Excellent as alwaysIn full: Well, I got a pb rather unexpectedly. Weather was fabulous, the course was glorious as always and the organisation first class.

If I was being really picky, it gets a bit congested in the race hq at the beginning but it's not a big deal. All around the course there were dozens of marshals - completely astonishing the amount of voluntary support this race attracts.Date of review: February 26, 2012

In short: Excellent EventIn full: My first time at this one but I shall be back - not least because I bagged a pb by 2 mins despite the howling wind. Great course and although it isn't actually flat, the inclines are nothing and the downhill more than compensates.

In short: Superb First EventIn full: Yes, it was tough at times (no individual hill was a killer - they kind of cumulatively get you in the end) and it was warm and I went off too fast so I paid in the end. But, this was a seriously good first event - all credit to the organisers and to the spectators who were awesome.